What we're up to

This week, I discovered that it's time to register Carson for summer baseball. He has a choice this year. He can either play one more year of T-ball or he can play coach-pitch. I would prefer him play coach-pitch since he has been hitting pitched balls for the last 4 years but I decided to give him the choice.

I asked him the other night to choose between the two or even choose not to play baseball anymore. He asked a few questions and then decided to play coach-pitch. I'm certain that this will challenge him more than T-ball.

Baseball still seems to be Carson's favorite. He asked to play catch the other day--when the weather was about 20 degrees and our hands were frozen. He still asks to go down in the basement and hit balls when its cold outside too. I'm sure before too long, Tara and I will have to schedule off on weekends to go to tournaments if he plays select ball also.

Hannah is in 'Dance Dance Dance' at school and likes that type of activity. While both kids are very 'music oriented,' Hannah is very much so. She claps and dances to the beat when catchy songs are playing on the radio. She even sings the words to some songs.....I will never forget being at Grandma and Grandpa's house over the holidays and she began singing a 'Christmas carol":
"Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer
Had a very shiny nose.
And if you ever saw him
You would have to call him names.....
Womanizer, womanizer, womanizer, izer, izer"

Her current favorite song is "Mona Lisa" by the All American Rejects. In addition to her dancing and singing, her new interests are putting on make-up with her mother and getting her nails painted. I'm in trouble with this one.

In the nuts....

Carson was telling us about his day yesterday at the dinner table:

"I was playing soccer and then Gwenny kicked the ball and hit me in the nuts."

"Excuse me?" Tara asks.

Carson repeats himself. Tara asks him, "What are nuts?" Obviously baiting him along.

"They're right here," and points at his crotch.

Tara gives me a look that's priceless. It sure is interesting what kids learn at school these days and how fast they grow up.

Community Playhouse

Last night, Tara and I took the kids to see Willy Wonka at the Lincoln Community Playhouse. Tara was able to get tickets from her work as they are a sponsor of the playhouse. Let me tell you, this was a great show and one that Carson and Hannah both enjoyed. I was extremely surprised to see Hannah sitting attentively through the entire show, clapping at the closing of acts, and laughing at appropriate directed humor. Carson watched the movie sometime prior to this play so he absolutely had an idea what was going on.....he even mentioned at certain points that the play was just like the movie. Tara and I thought the play was awesome--certainly something I would go see again....and it was great to get the kids out of the their normal routine. It exposes Carson and Hannah to something different then they are used to and lets their imaginations run wild.

Quick Update

Okay, I know already.

It has been a while since we've posted anything. It was pretty hectic around the house since Carson was on Christmas break and both kids were kept home quite a bit around the holidays. We've been up to the same 'ol stuff though. Getting up early, trying to tempt the kids into getting dressed for the day, Hannah throwing fits, arguing over where they were going to sit at the dinner table and who gets to sit by who, Carson tormenting his sister, more 'Hannah Fits', then bedtime.....only to do it all again the next day. Whew.

We had a pretty good new year; a good couple of days off where we stored Christmas decorations and tacked a few other odd projects around the house.....and Tara and I got to spend some time together by ourselves doing what we used to do b.k. (before kids) like walking around the mall, going to out-of-the-way shops, and having margaritas at the local Mexican restaurant.

We want to wish everyone a very happy and above all, HEALTHY 2009 and we will try to keep the stories coming......between 'Hannah Fits' that is.

Guest Photographer

Hannah received a camera as a gift from one of Tara's co-workers (he and his family are in the states from India) this Christmas. She loves the camera and took it everywhere the past few days. I thought that it would be a good idea to let her 'go wild' and see what she took pictures of. These are some of the 'greatest hits:'

Sidney on the bed:

Ginger's tail:

A close-up of Carson's face:



Her doll by a tea glass:


Ginger's tail (again):

And a self-portrait:

All in all, pretty good photos from Hannah. I plan on checking her camera periodically and posting the photos she takes......

What I Want For Christmas

Last night, Tara asked Carson what he wanted the most from Santa. Without missing a beat, he said:

"A kid."

"A kid?" Tara asks.

"Yeah, a boy kid, not a girl."

"You mean a brother?" Tara asks.

"Yeah, a brother, not a sister," says Carson.

Santa can't bring those on the sleigh.........and its a good thing too.

You Will Call Him Names

Hannah is learning Christmas carols at school so we get a rendition of the current song at home on a daily basis.

The latest one causes Tara and I some concern....

'Rudolph the red nosed reindeer,
Had a very shiny nose,
And if you ever saw him,
You would call him names.'

What are they teaching kids these days?